Dear Central Illinois Distance Running Community,
Re: Bob Goldman Memorial Scholastic Challenge 5K and Kids Runs
I had another version of this correspondence put together and nearly ready to share but, I scrapped it and started anew with this version. That original letter focused more on the disappointment of ending a special portion of my “running life” and dealt with the uncertainty (near unwillingness) of admitting that all things come to an end and how I would handle such an admission.
After a long pause, my REAL vision and thought became clear. While the event is now officially “retired”, I wish to publicly THANK YOU for such a fantastic level of support for so many years.
In 1993, Springfield Road Runners Club Hall of Fame Member John Hartnett and I directed the inaugural Scholastic Challenge 5K and Kids Runs. We later added “Bob Goldman Memorial” to the name of the event to honor the late Bob Goldman. Bob was a very special man who lived and breathed running both as a competitor and as a supporter. He was a Springfield Road Runner through and through and was lost in a vehicle accident far too soon.
When the event was first staged, there were far fewer 5K events offered. Most races were 10Ks with marathons second on the “menu”. There was also a much lower percentage of running events tied to charitable functions and/or organizations. These two factors made the Scholastic Challenge a fresh alternative—-a 5K where 100% of net race proceeds were not only donated to a special “cause” but, donated to the future of our sport—-student- athletes of the central Illinois high school running programs.
$165,000+ donated to those local high school running programs and 30 years later, a change in the “running landscape” has become clear and evident. The unique and desired aspects of the race previously mentioned as well as an emphasis on cultivating a fast field of runners and fast course to compete on simply are no longer unique and, per the number of participants in recent years, no longer desired as in the past.
While bittersweet, this is not a message of bitterness! It has been a fantastic time and, literally, 50% of my lifetime has included the honored title of (Bob Goldman Memorial) Scholastic Challenge 5K and Kids Runs Race Director It has earned me recognition in Road Race Management as being among the top 20 in the world for consecutive years serving as a race director for a 5K event. More importantly, it has led to stronger bonds of friendship as well as many new friends. Of course, it also has served the purpose that John and I set out to achieve in 1993—send back as much money as possible to those high school running programs. (Our initial “Dream Goal” was to, hopefully/someday, eclipse $10,000 distributed!).
VERY FEW dollars from me personally went into this venture. The SPONSORS made this possible and I proclaim special thanks and recognition to four sponsors who supported this race for its entire 30-year history: The Springfield Running Center, Primo Designs, Eric and Dave Floyd (Individually and as Floyd Imports), and the Springfield Road Runners Club. While we did have other sponsors along the way (some for several years themselves), these four were there for the duration.
To close, THANK ALL OF YOU who participated and/or volunteered over the past 3 decades. Without you, there would never have been a Scholastic Challenge 5K and Kids Runs.
With Thanks and Gratitude,
Jay Rogers
Bob Goldman Memorial 5K and Kids Runs Race Director
